QL/E v3 ======= Welcome to QL/E! In a nutshell ------------- QL/E is the pre-configured and ready to go portable QL (^1) Environment offering a bootable virtual WINchester disk drive container file named QLE.WIN to be used with the SMSQ/E, Minerva or QDOS operating systems on multiple Sinclair QL compatible platforms, may they be real computers or virtual/emulated machines. The QL/E distribution does include the most recent QL virtual machines and emulators and QL compatible operating systems. ^1 QL, what? Never heard of the QL and its software Environment. https://sinclairql.net/what.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinclair_QL https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinclair_Qdos https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SMSQ/E The QL software Environment is not a type of Unix. It's not a flavour of Linux. It's certainly got nothing to do with Windows or MacOS! The QL software Environment is its own thing - a very specialised 68K-based single-user preemptive multitasking operating system with a procedural structured BASIC interpreter as shell. So if you've not used it before, you will find it doesn't behave quite the same way as anything else. The QL community think it's better! We hope you enjoy your experience with the QL software Environment. QL operating systems have an integrated BASIC interpreter, originally named SUperBASIC. Minerva and SMSQ can run multiple instances (JOBS) of BASIC, named MultiBASIC (Minerva) and SBASIC (SMSQ) respectively. Let's name them S*BASIC. In case you have never before used a QL system or have forgotten how QL systems work, we advise to carefully read this document. QL/E is explicitly non-commercial. It is a well maintained project and updated versions will be published from time to time exclusively on the sinclairql.net website. https://sinclairql.net/repository.html#QLE https://sinclairql.net/repository.html#TheDistribution Notation -------- {?} indicates a keyboard key (without the {}), e.g. {ENTER} for the Enter key '?' indicates a text to be typed in (without the ''), e.g. 'PRINT VER$' for PRINT VER$ "?" indicates a name (without the ""), e.g. "System" for the button named System DevN indicates a drive (N for number 1 to 8) of a QL compatible Directory Device (DD), e.g. WIN1_ for drive number 1 of the WIN Directory Device 1-2-3 go! (Quick Start Guide) --------- 1. Preparation & First trial In case you intend to use QL/E on a QL-SD or Q68 based system, you best use the package THE_DISTRIBUTION_SD.ZIP. To prepare your SD card, please follow the README_SD.txt in the folder THE_DISTRIBUTION. In case you intend to use QL/E on a CompactFlash (CF) card on a QL system with Tetroid Disk Interface (TDI) or QubIDE, you best use the package THE_DISTRIBUTION_QU.ZIP. To prepare your CompactFlash (CF) card, please follow the README_QU.txt in the folder THE_DISTRIBUTION. Now to the PC editions: After unpacking the package THE_DISTRIBUTION.ZIP or THE_DISTRIBUTION_qle.ZIP to your preferred location, you can start and use QL/E immediately. Everything you need is in the qle folder. On a PC, Windows users best start QPC2 (a 32-bit Windows program) using QPC2.bat located in the \qle\ folder of THE DISTRIBUTION, all others (Mac OS, Linux, etc.) best start SMSQmulator11.jar (a Java 11 program) using their up-to-date Java Runtime Environment, or SMSQmulator8.jar (a Java 8 program). On systems with older Java Runtime Environments you can try to run older versions of QL/E which contain SMSQmulator for Java 7 (up to and including QL/E v3.19) and Java 6 (up to and including QL/E v3.13). After a first trial you could choose your desired platform and make preparations where needed. QPC2 virtual machine under Windows ********************************** No preparation needed. Everything is preconfigured. Simply start QPC2.bat. SMSQmulator virtual machine *************************** Prerequisites: Up-to-date Java Runtime Environment (JRE), either Java 8 or Java 11. For Windows no preparation needed. Everything is preconfigured. Simply start the SMSQmulator*.jar of choice. For Mac OS, Linux, etc., you may want to make use of shell scripts to start SMSQmulator. Preparation: - Once you have at least the qle folder on your system, all you have to prepare is to set the file attributes (chmod 755 *.sh) one time. Open a shell and start SMSQmulator of choice, either for Java 8 or Java 11 (sh ./SMSQmulator*.sh). QXL PC ISA slot card under DOS ****************************** Preparation: - Copy the content of the folder QXL (the file SMSQEQXL.EXE) to the root of the C:\ drive of the PC. - Copy the file QLE.WIN with changed filename (renamed) QXL.WIN to the root of the C:\ drive of the PC. Start SMSQEQXL.EXE from the DOS prompt. Important: - Make sure no Windows is loaded. - Make sure that the file QLE.WIN has been copied to the root directory of the C: drive with filename QXL.WIN. Otherwise it is not found by SMSQEQXL.EXE. QPC1 (DOS) ********** Preparation of a bootable DOS system with QL/E on a USB Memory Stick: - Prepare a bootable DOS system on a USB Memory Stick with FreeDOS (e.g. using Rufus). - Copy the content of the folder QPC1 to the root of this USB Memory Stick. - Copy the file QLE.WIN with changed filename (renamed) QXL.WIN to the root of this USB Memory Stick. Preparation of a DOS emulator: - Prepare a folder with the DOS emulator (e.g. DOSBox). - Copy the content of the folder QPC1 to the root of this folder. - Copy the file dosbox.conf of the folder sample_configurations_for\DOSBox_emulator to the root of this folder. DOSBox will load this dosbox.conf configuration file instead of the dosbox-0.74.conf file. - Copy the file QLE.WIN with changed filename (renamed) QXL.WIN to the root of this folder. Boot the DOS system and then start either QPCE.EXE (English) or QPCD.EXE (German). Please notice that QPC1 comes with the SMSQ/E operating system in version 2b93 which has less advanced features compared to the current state of this operating system. Important: - Make sure no Windows is loaded. - Make sure that the file QLE.WIN has been copied with filename QXL.WIN. Otherwise it is not found by QPC*.EXE. - Know problem as of 30.12.2020: Due to a problem in the SBASIC version of QPC1, booting QL/E v3.20 onwards (loading extensions with LR instead of LRESPR) does not work! For now, you have to use QL/E v3.19 under QPC1!!! QPC1 with its rather old version 2b93 of SMSQ/E needs and loads older software modules such as: LRESPR History1v27_cde LRESPR QPAC2_139_EN (v1.40 from QL/E v3.20 onwards) LRESPR MENU_REXT_704_GE EX qascade EX sysmon_200_EN Q-emuLator (license needed) under Windows or Mac OS X ***************************************************** Running QL/E with Q-emuLator - a QL emulator for Windows and Mac OS X - is also possible but requires this to be a fully licensed installation. After starting Q-emuLator simply attach the QLE.WIN file as QXL Hard Disk File to the Microdrive slot number 1, give the QL enough Memory as desired (4 MB recommended) and Start the QL. Some versions of QDOS may be a bit restive and may not like the boot program. QDOS ROM version JS or Minerva should be fine for most cases. SMSQ/E in form of the build for (Super) Gold Card equipped (Aurora) systems or the special build for Q-emuLator (file SMSQ_QEM) is also supported. In case Q-emuLator is configured for 8MB RAM and "Additional video card" Q60, the boot program ask to load SMSQ/E. uQLx emulator under Linux ************************* Running QL/E with uQLx - a QL emulator for Linux - is also possible. The latest versions of uQLx are included in a ready to run setup in this latest release of QL/E. Preparation: - Once you have at least the qle folder on your Linux system, all you have to prepare is to set the Linux file attributes (chmod 755 *.sh then ./uqlxchmod.sh) one time. Open a shell and start uQLx (sh ./uqlx.sh). For other and older versions of uQLx make sure you have your .uqlxrc configuration file properly configured (e.g. enough RAM) and have the QLE.WIN file properly linked in (e.g. DEVICE = WIN1,/home/pi/Q/on/X/qle/QLE.WIN,qdos-fs). Start uQLx as desired (e.g. with command qxxx which uses SIZE_3). Some versions of QDOS may be a bit restive and may not like the boot program. QDOS ROM version JS or Minerva should be fine for most cases. Sinclair QL (the original) with QL-SD ************************************* Running QL/E on an original Sinclair QL with QL-SD expansion or on the FPGA based multi-platform computers MIST or MiSTer is also possible. Preparation: - Copy the file QXL.WIN of the folder QL-SD to the root of freshly formatted SDHC card. - Copy the file QLE.WIN to the root of the SDHC card. - Make sure your systems runs the new QLSD WIN driver 1.09 WL + MK 2020. Insert the SDHC card into the SD card slot of your QL and power-on the machine. FPGA hardware (MIST/MiSTer) *************************** Running QL/E (THE VIRTUAL QL ENVIRONMENT!) under the QL core (the CPU core is a TG68K, running as a 68000 equalling circa 7.5MHz) on the FPGA based multi-platform computer MIST (developed by Till Harbaum) is possible. Preparation: - Copy the file QXL.WIN of the folder QL-SD to the root of freshly formatted SDHC card. - Copy the file QLE.WIN to the root of the SDHC card. - Copy the content of the folder MIST to the root of this SDHC card. Insert the SDHC card into the SD card slot and start your MIST. Operation is according to QL and MIST standards. For more about the MIST and it's QL core have a look at the QL_in_the_MIST_IMPORTANT.txt text file in the MIST folder. Q68 *** Preparation: - Copy the file QLE.WIN to the root of freshly formatted SDHC card. - Copy the content of the folder Q68 to the root of this SDHC card. Insert the SDHC card into the SD card slot and start your Q68. sQLux emulator ************** Prerequisites: On Linux based systems, the SDL2 library is needed. Most common way to install this is: apt install libsdl2 Running QL/E with sQLux - a QL emulator derived from uQLx - is also possible. The latest version of sQLux is included in a ready to run setup in this latest release of QL/E. On a PC, Windows users just have to start either sqlux_w64.exe (a 64-bit Windows program) or sqlux_w32.exe (a 32-bit Windows program). Linux users (either on PC or Raspberry Pi) must make sure that their system has the correct edition/version of shared library called SDL installed. For further information please consult the sQLux documentation in the Documentation folder. If so, just start the sqlux* program file which best suits your Linux system. You can even start and use sQLux in an Internet web browser (e.g. Chrome) session using one of those URLs: https://sqlux.xora.org.uk/ https://sqlux.qlforum.co.uk/ 2. Start The (virtual/emulated) QL machine of your choice will start and boot the pre-configured and ready to go QL Environment which is delivered in the virtual WINchester disk drive container file named QLE.WIN. 3. Usage Once the desktop is set-up, clicking on the "System" button at the top of the screen (or pressing the keys {ALT}&{>}) will bring the main system S*BASIC CLI (command line interpreter) to your attention. Read the last few lines printed in the S*BASIC's window to know about possible first hand commands (such as CFG, CLI or IDE) you may like to invoke. Have fun with QL/E! Configure --------- Once the QL/E boot program is started, you are presented a choice of available boot flavours at your fingertip. Boot flavours are predefined sets of configuration. Currently the following boot flavours are available: {A}ll, {D}ebug, {M}inimal, {N}o IP NET, {O}mit pop-ups You can perform some fresh startups and try out the various boot flavours to decide for yourself which one matches your taste. Either with a boot flavour of choice or without, use the QL/E command CFG to persistent ConFiGure QL/E according to your needs. A guided workflow lets you configure/fine-tune QL/E. QL/E's configuration is stored in the QLE_cfg file on the boot device (normally on WIN1_). There's a fast way to override the configuration of the "Purpose" (what should your QL/E automatically do as main task). To do so, you may copy a so called ControlFile to the root folder of QL/E (where the files QPC2.exe and SMSQmulator*.jar are located). See files in folder ControlFiles for details. To access servers (FSERVE) on IPNet you may need to use the command MAP_N to bind servers to NET numbers. See its manual (IP Network Manual.pdf) for details. Start programs -------------- On SMSQ/E (and even on its predecessor QDOS/Minerva), like on most others modern operating systems, there are several ways to start a program. Let’s take PSION’s XCHANGE office suite as an example to describe the ways to start it. This program is present as file with the following full pathfilename: WIN1_app_psx_xchange 1. "Old school guys" may like the command line feature of S*BASIC where EX XCHANGE followed by {ENTER} will start the program with filename XCHANGE. 2. "Windows kids" use the Start menu located on the top left corner of the screen and select "Office suite (PSION XCHANGE)" under Applications. If the Start menu is hidden, try {ALT}&{s} to pick it. 3. "Mac lovers" start the program using a click on the ICON Xchange in the folder APPS of the QDT desktop. 4. Use the program launcher of QTop-Desk (call it to top with {ALT}&{t}), select XCHANGE in the PROGRAMS menu. 5. Use the EXECUTE feature of file manager like QTop-Desk (menu FILES) or QPAC2 (button Files, command Execute). 6. Use a HOTKEY ({ALT}&{h} shows the list of HOTKEYs); {ALT}&{X} will start the program. Directory Devices (DD) ---------------------- WIN = hard drive (WINchester disk drive). FLP = FLoPpy disk drive. RAM = RAM drive. HFS = Host File System (if any). Usually each DD driver supports up to 8 drives, e.g. WIN1, WIN2, ..., WIN8. Also see Notation at top of this document. QL Mouse -------- In QL systems, a 2-button mouse has the following functions: - Left button = HIT (select) - Right button = DO (do it) Switch programs --------------- QL systems use the key combination {CTRL}&{C} to change the topmost program, similar to {Alt}&{Tab} under Windows. You can also use the mouse pointer to select a visible part of a running program to become the current topmost one. Minimise programs ----------------- QL/E systems use the key combination {ALT}&{z} to minimise the topmost program, similar to the window minimise control under Windows. Maximise programs ----------------- QL systems use a DO or {ENTER} on a button of a minimised program to maximise it. Writing, RUNning, SAVing, compiling (your own) BASIC programs ------------------------------------------------------------- QL/E is well equipped and prepared to write and run BASIC programs. It's as simple as 1-2-3-4-5! 1. Make sure you're in a S*BASIC session, e.g. the main system S*BASIC CLI (job no 0, probably to be waken or picked first). 2. IDE (type 'IDE' followed by {ENTER} in main system S*BASIC CLI or 'DO WIN1_DO_IDE' followed by {ENTER} in any S*BASIC CLI) sets up the UI for programming. 3. NEW (type 'NEW' followed by {ENTER}) makes room for a new program. 4. ED (type 'ED' followed by {ENTER}) enters the editor to edit the program source. FYI: S*BASIC programs need line numbers, try typing '10 print "Hello World!"' followed by {ENTER}. {ESC} exits the editor. 5. RUN (type 'RUN' followed by {ENTER}) runs the program in the interpreter. {CTRL}&{Space} breaks a running BASIC program, keeping all variables and the program counter (last command executed). CONTINUE (type 'CONTINUE' followed by {ENTER}) continues to run the BASIC program. 'SAVE DevN_filename' followed by {ENTER} SAVEs the program to a drive, e.g. 'SAVE WIN1_dat_my1stprog_bas'. 'LOAD DevN_filename' followed by {ENTER} LOADs the program from a drive, e.g. 'LOAD WIN1_dat_my1stprog_bas'. 'EXTRAS' followed by {ENTER} lists all available BASIC commands. For a full set of information about the super S*BASIC please consult the superbasic-manual-readthedocs-io-en-latest.pdf in the Documentation folder. There are two BASIC compiler (TURBO and Q_Liberator) installed in QL/E. A few words about the TURBO compiler (a 4 pass compiler, splitted in 2 phases): The command CHARGE (type 'CHARGE' followed by {ENTER}) compiles the loaded program. The command EXECUTE (type 'EXECUTE' followed by {ENTER}) starts the compiled program. FYI: A full set of documentation for the TURBO compiler can be found in the sub-directory WIN1_app_turbo_man_ within the QDOS file system (virtual WINchester disk drive container file named QLE.WIN) and in the PDF files in the Documentation folder. A few words about the Q_Liberator compiler (a 2 phases compiler): The command LIBERATE (type 'LIBERATE DevN_compiledfilename,' followed by {ENTER}, mind the comma!) compiles the actually LOADed (!) BASIC program into an EXECutable binary program. With the use of "Things" you may even use QD to edit, run and compile BASIC programs. Under SMSQ/E you can use the "SBAS/QD" "Thing" to run BASIC programs out of QD (start QD with 'EXEP QD;"\TSBAS/QD"' followed by {ENTER}). With the "QBASIC" "Thing" you can compile BASIC programs with Q_Liberator and execute the resulting binaries out of QD (start QD with 'EXEP QD;"\TQBASIC"' followed by {ENTER}). Build/make the SMSQ/E operating system -------------------------------------- QL systems come with an operating system ready to use. Normally users do not have to build/make it on their own. QL/E favours SMSQ/E as the operating system, but also runs under Minerva and QDOS. Even not needed for users, experts may wanna have a look at OS sources or even tweak/change/improve it. For those the latest SMSQ/E source distribution is included in QL/E in the form of the WIN container SMSQE???.WIN mounted as WIN8. QL/E is well prepared to build/make the SMSQ/E operating system and the QL Extended Environment (PTR_GEN, WMAN, HOT_REXT). Just run the program SMSQEMake either from the MY PROGS menu of QTop-Desk, the Start menu or from the S*BASIC command line by EX WIN8_extras_exe_SMSQEmake. FYI: A set of source code and feature documentation for the SMSQ/E can be found in the sub-directory WIN8_extras_doc_ and WIN8_extras_new_ within the QDOS file system (virtual WINchester disk drive container file named SMSQE???.WIN) and in the PDF files in the 3-OS folder in the Documentation folder. The WIN1_ file system --------------------- The QDOS file system WIN1_ (virtual WINchester disk drive container file named QLE.WIN on host side) is initially sized 80MB to have a fair balance between size and memory usage. This allows QL/E to become usable in practice with QL systems just offering as little as 640KB or 896KB RAM. Root content (list created using QPAC2's Files feature "Print, List of files"): Directory WIN1_ boot QL/E's boot program (runtime version without REMarks) boot_verbose QL/E's boot program (verbose source code with REMarks/Documentation) boot_log Startup log created by the boot program, allowed to be deleted QTop_log Startup log created by the QTop-Desk program (TDESK), allowed to be deleted QL_in_ascii_txt QL/E's visualisation of the good old Sinclair QL, loaded and showed by the boot program QLE_boot_user_exit1_loader_inf QL/E's user exit number 1, the place to load your software QLE_inf QL/E's internal version information QLE_start_menu_GD2_rc QL/E's Start menu for SMSQ/E QLE_start_menu_lgc_rc QL/E's Start menu for QDOS/Minerva QLE_manual_txt QL/E's manual (a copy of this file) QLE_changelog_txt QL/E's changelog QLE_history_txt QL/E's version history QLE_news_txt QL/E's news in this release recent_list SMSQ/E's recent files list gprint_prt PSION's graphic dump driver quil_hob PSION's help file for QUILL graf_hob PSION's help file for EASEL abba_hob PSION's help file for ABACUS archv_hob PSION's help file for ARCHIVE MultiTaskingDemo_bas A S*BASIC program to demo multitasking capabilities TheRealMatrix_bas THE REAL MATRIX program MenuConf_INF Configuration database of program MenuConfig dhry.res Dhrystone Benchmark result file > app QL/E's folder containing the applications > bas QL/E's folder containing the files of HyperHELP for BASIC > dat QL/E's folder containing data, e.g. the QL Screen Collection (QLSC) > DO QL/E's folder containing the DO S*BASIC scripts > etc QL/E's folder containing the various files, e.g. the desktop backgrounds > lf QL/E's folder containing the lost & found files (initially nothing) > sys QL/E's folder containing the system software > tmp QL/E's folder containing temporary files > usr QL/E's folder containing the users files (initially nothing) > utl QL/E's folder containing utility software For full content (all files in all folders) see files.txt. Expand file system ------------------ Not happy with the amount of free space in the supplied file system (QLE.WIN)? There's a relative easy way to expand the file system using the XPD DO script. Good to know/Hints ------------------ Access to the host's file system (if any) is by the device name HFS (short for Host File System). This device name is an alias for QPC2's DOS device and SMSQmulator's NFA device. It has been chosen to avoid first character clash with the DEV and N device drivers. In case you ever get lost with an undesired or "unworking" configuration of QL/E, you can always delete QL/E's configuration file QLE_cfg on the boot device (normally on WIN1_). To do so, you can either use the S*BASIC command 'DELETE WIN1_QLE_cfg' or the DO script called STRIP by performing 'DO WIN1_DO_STRIP'. SERNET - a Network Device Driver using a SERial RS232C connection on SER1 - is included with its Server configured to be Inactive (Inaktive). To use SERNET simply LRESPR WIN1_sys_sernet_rext, then set the station number using SNET_STATION 'no', then start the Server using S_SERNET. Try DIR S'no'_RAM1_ to see if it works. The boot program now has an user exit (PROCedure QLE_user_exit1) to LOAD a custom set of software (using LRespr and EXexute)! Just place a file called "QLE_boot_user_exit1_loader_inf" in the root of WIN1_. See example in the ControlFiles folder. You can create an empty file in a S*BASIC session by performing 'DO WIN1_DO_CUE' {ENTER} (CUE is short for Create User Exit). This user exit is a good place to load drivers for optional hardware such as SERMouse, e.g.: LR win1_sys_SERMouse_304_2bt_SER1 The latest version of the Minerva ROM is 1.98a1 (build date 13.12.2018). For historical reasons (mainly due to uQLx), the filename is minerva_rom and not Minerva_ROM or Minerva.ROM. QPC2 v5 now supports Q-emuLator style QDOS File Headers on non-QDOS directory devices. It also supports byte-swapped QubIDE images (automatic detection) and old QL-SD images, both have ID QLW1. QPC2 v4 is still included in the QL/E package, v4 is very handy in case you want to export files to HFS (DOS) without the new features of v5 (Q-emuLator style QDOS File Headers, converting filenames). SMSQmulator is now (v2.32 onwards) properly expanding “..\” and “.\” in the SMSQmulator.ini file to allow portable systems. Hence HFS6, HFS7 and HFS8 are fully working Directory Device (DD). sQLux (and some editions of uQLx) also support byte-swapped QubIDE images. To get access to such, configure sqlux.ini's BDI1 = {filename} then after starting QL/E you have to load (LRESPR) WIN1_sys_BDI_bin to make the Directory Device SDC1_ available. Additional instances (JOBS) of SBASIC (on SMSQ, invoke using the command SBASIC or EX DEVn_ProgramName_bas) an MultiBASIC (on Minerva, invoke using the command EXEC pipep) can receive a CoMmanD string at startup. This is stored in the variable CMD$. To quit an additional instance (JOB) of SBASIC (on SMSQ) or MultiBASIC (on Minerva) you can use the command QUIT. Psst. Now I tell you a secret, if you don't already know! The Matrix is already built in in every QL! Basically it only needs two statements (REPeat and COPY or SPL). Explore the WIN1_ file system to find and try! Seek for MiniMatrYX and TheRealMatrix_bas. The Matrix makes full use of the QL's preemptive multitasking operating system and stresses the kernel and device drivers to the max. Known problems/quirks --------------------- - FSERVE (the network File Server) is enabled by default as "Purpose" "Server" of the QL/E system. To disable it, use CFG. FSERVE of RAM loaded editions of TK2 under QDOS and Minerva may crash SuperBASIC (at least under Q-emuLator, uQLx and MIST). The boot program takes care of this problem by disabling this "Purpose". - Lynx (the web browser) needs a serious amount of memory. It is advisable to use a QL system with at least 8MB RAM. Running QL/E on Q-emuLator with 4MB RAM or less can crash Lynx. - Mines_exe may crash some platforms. - XCHANGE V3.90L may draw the menu borders to a wrong screen location, there's also a patched copy of it which doesn't does this. XCHANGE V3.90N (default) needs a higher screen resolution than the good old standard QL. Out of the 3 binaries supplied with QL/E, choose the one which best works for you. - QMovie (the video player) needs a serious amount of memory. It is advisable to use a QL system with at least 16MB RAM. - MiniMatrYX is designed for SMSQ's SBASIC. It needs a mod to run under SuperBASIC. - QDT, even with the help of QLEhelper, is not coping well with the lowest screen resolution 512x256 when it comes to icon positioning (see report https://qlforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?p=51275#p51275). Best use QDT with higher screen resolutions. - Some versions of QDOS may be a bit restive and may not like the boot program. QDOS ROM version JS should be fine for most cases. Benchmarks ---------- There are several benchmark programs within QL/E. The one which has the broadest range of comparable results is QTop-Index. This is an implementation of the High-Level benchmarks which were published in the British computer magazine Personal Computer World (PCW) in October 1986 and in the German computer magazine c't (Computer Technik) in October 1987. You can start QTop-Index in many different ways (Start menu, QTop-Desk's Desk menu, EX TINDEX from S*BASIC, etc.). Keep in mind that QL/E is a multitasking system which - depending on the startup scheme and flavour - has several tasks (JOBS) running which can consume ressources. Hence to get most accurate benchmark results, you best start benchmarks on a freshly booted system where you have quit the boot process and start QTop-Index from S*BASIC using DO WIN1_DO_TINDEX). System A ******** Running QL/E on a SAMSUNG NP300V5AH (Core i7-2670QM CPU, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD, Windows 7 64-bit) notebook computer (former GamerPC of my son, became my workhorse in spring 2015) shows the following results (taken in February 2017, QL/E version 3.16): QPC1 QPC2 S8W S7W uQLx2017 (SnW n=SMSQmulator for Java version n under Windows with Java version 1.8.0_45-b15) 1.52 4.05 2.23 2.23 0.50 Startup (boot ^2) completed: 14s 9s 18s 18s 17s QTop-Index (TINDEX), Index (WIN1_): 126.056 633.601 273.240 279.520 377.417 Rocket speed: On my fastest personal computer the QPC2 virtual QL machine is ~ 580 times faster than a good old original 1983 Sinclair QL computer. System B ******** Running QL/E on a MIRACLE SYSTEMS QXL2 card with a XC68040RC33M CPU clocked at 33Mhz and 8MB RAM in my good old ExeQtor MKII Tower PC (my workhorse between 1996 and 2002) shows the following results (taken in April 2016, QL/E version 3.13): Startup (boot ^2) completed: less than 2m (including QDT and Photo QL) QTop-Index (TINDEX), Index (WIN1_): 29.727 One of the fastest native hardware QL: The QXL card is ~ 30 times faster than a good old original 1983 Sinclair QL computer. System C ******** Running QL/E on an unmodified Raspberry Pi Model B at default clock-rate under uQLx (qxxx, 800x600, 8MB RAM, Minerva, ergo no QDT, no Photo) shows the following results (taken in April 2016, QL/E version 3.13): Startup (boot ^2) completed: 22s QTop-Index (TINDEX), Index (WIN1_): 17.669 Not bad: A Raspberry Pi is ~ 18 times faster than a good old original 1983 Sinclair QL computer. System D ******** Running QL/E on a Q68 (512x256 QL display mode, 32MB RAM, SMSQ/E, ergo no QDT, no Photo) shows the following results (taken in October 2017, QL/E version 3.17): Startup (boot ^2) completed: 27s QTop-Index (TINDEX), Index (WIN1_): 22.460 The Q68 in QL display mode is ~ 22 times faster than a good old original 1983 Sinclair QL computer. ^2 A key was pressed at the countdown to take a short cut. A brief history --------------- QL/E started its life as the personal QL system environment of Urs König at the old days of COWO Electronic where Urs had multiple QL compatible systems at hand. The first version of QL/E was launched on January 12th 2002 at the 18th launch anniversary of the Sinclair QL. This version was a stand-alone distribution on a CD-R and included an updated version of the KuEl public domain software collection known as QL-PD CD-R. Web links: https://sinclairql.net/18th_anniversary.html http://qlwiki.qlforum.co.uk/doku.php?id=qlwiki:cdroms&s[]=cd&s[]=roms#ql_e_distribution The second version was created in autumn 2006 (at around the North American QL show) under the name vQLE (short for virtual Quantum Leap Environment) but has never been completed nor distributed. This third version has been re-created from scratch with a much tighter scope. Because "QL is 30 2014 - The Distribution" already consists of the largest available QL related public domain and free software library there was no longer a need for the now outdated KuEl public domain software collection. But there still was a need for the pre-configured and ready to go portable (virtual) QL Environment offering a bootable QDOS file system (virtual WINchester disk drive container file named QLE.WIN) to be used with the SMSQ/E operating system, may it be on native hardware (QXL, Q40/Q60), emulators (Q-emuLator, uQLx) or virtual SMSQ/E machines (QPC, SMSQmulator). The new tighter minimal scope is: - Ready to go (pre-configured) portable virtual QL Environment with QPC2 (Windows) and SMSQmulator (Java) virtual QL machines, both running SMSQ/E (the latest and best maintained incarnation of a QL compatible operating system). - Able to build/make the SMSQ/E operating system and the QL Extended Environment (EE) PTR_GEN, WMAN and HOT_REXT. - Able to edit office documents created with the PSION XCHANGE suite (QUILL, ABACUS, ARCHIVE and EASEL). - Able to browse the internet using Lynx, a text only web browser. - Able to edit, compile and run S*BASIC programs using a rudimentary IDE (integrated development environment). - Able to run several desktop environments such as QTop, QPAC or QDT. - Able to make best use of all the QXL.WIN files (QDOS file systems) on THE DISTRIBUTION. - Deliver a full set of documentation (^2) for QPC2, SMSQmulator, SMSQ/E, QDT, QPAC and QTop. Since 2015 the scope has been extended to: - Support all other current and future SMSQ/E platforms such the QXL card (DOS), QPC1 (DOS), Q68 and also for QDOS/Minerva platforms such as the original Sinclair QL or the FPGA based multi-platform computer MIST with QL-SD, Q-emuLator, uQLx (Linux for Intel and ARM including the Raspberry Pi) and the new sQLux. See changelog.txt, history.txt and news.txt to learn more about how QL/E evolved over time. Documentation ------------- (^2) Speaking of documentation, the Documentation folder has currently 15 folders with 112 files of which 58 files are PDFs and 30 are TXTs! The more you read/study and understand about how QL systems function, the more pleasure you will have with QL/E (and any other QL environment)! Enjoy! Feedback is highly appreciated. QL forever! I wish you all a Happy and Healthy New Year 2024! May we have a chance to celebrate "QL is 40" in one way or another! Cheers, Urs Koenig mailto:ql@bluewin.ch https://sinclairql.net/ Released editions ----------------- Edition Codename Version Files Free sectors Boot file size / changes ******* ******** ******* ***** ************ ************************ 1504 Heaven 3.10 2366 9960 41475 / n.a. 1510 Crow 3.11 2363 12444 42474 / 24 1604 Freeze 3.13 2423 6056 47830 / 84 1607 Fix-it 3.14 2424 9064 48367 / 15 1611 Grey heron 3.15 2437 6644 54370 / 105 1702 Snow white swan 3.16 2479 1632 57037 / 55 1710 Liberated 3.17 2497 1980 60117 / 58 1808 Eternity 3.18 2509 1892 61164 / 59 1904 On the move 3.19 2544 1556 41160 / 127 2020 GA Take a breath 3.20 2561 768 41857 / 26 2021 Circle of Life 3.21 2560 66892 40976 / 91 2022 Paradise 3.22 2871 55440 40505 / 91 2023 Midnight Sun 3.23 2906 54504 40818 / 16 Latest version 3.23 Last updated 12:27 21.04.2024